Change in post-deployment stabilization promotes predictability, equality Published Oct. 6, 2009 By April Rowden Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) -- The recent deployment deferment policy change institutionalizes an equitable deferment period of six months for Airmen completing 365-day indeterminate TDYs or an unaccompanied, short tour permanent change of station. Prior to the release of the new Air Force Instruction 36-2110, Assignments, which formalized the policy, an individual serving a 365-day deployment was deferred from any deployment for 12 months. The AFI eliminates the disparity between the short tour PCS and a 365-day deployment. "We are constantly reviewing officer and enlisted assignment policies to ensure that the Air Force fosters an environment of consistency and fairness across the active-duty force," said Senior Master Sgt. Dennis Carlson, superintendent of assignment policy and procedures at the Air Force Personnel Center here. "By making this adjustment to our governing AFIs, our Airmen are guaranteed unbiased and impartial consideration for the next round of deployments." The new policy complies with guidance by the secretary of defense to provide Airmen with a 1-1 dwell ratio in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. The deployment-to-dwell ratio ensures for every month an Airman spends in the CENTCOM AOR, that Airman has comparable time outside that AOR. Airmen have a responsibility to ensure their status is reflected accurately in the AEF reporting tool and to identify corrections with their unit deployment manager. "Although Airmen are eligible for other AEF deployments six months after returning from an indeterminate TDY, they still cannot be involuntarily deployed to the CENTCOM AOR for 365 days," said Lt. Col. Thomas Pauly with Air Force Personnel Center's Air and Space Expeditionary Force and Personnel Operations Directorate. This provides a level of deployment predictability for Airmen and promotes a growing equality in benefits for Airmen doing the same job. An increase in manning demands worldwide also has helped drive this policy change. When the 12-month deferment policy was instituted, fewer than 200 Airmen were deployed for 365 days or more. Today, more than 1,600 Airmen are filling the 365-day requirement. "By pulling those Airmen out of the deployment pool for 12 months, we felt we were bringing excessive hardship on our Airmen who were being deployed multiple times," said Sergeant Carlson. "In the Air Force, it's very important that we continually work to take care of our people and create a culture where Airmen receive the same treatment and same opportunities." Facts on the new deployment deferment policy are available on-line on the AFPC Web site, select the link "deployment deferment." For more information on the 365-day deferment policy, individuals should contact their unit deployment manager or their installation deployment officer. Airmen can also call the Total Force Service Center at 800-525-0102 or visit AFPC's secure ASK Web site.